Many clinicians have mastered the bone expansion technique to manage the lack of appropriate width of available alveolar bone for dental implant placement. However, expanding the thick cortical plates especially when working with the mandibular arch remains a challenge.

The ridge-split procedure has been proven to provide a predictable outcome, wherein an atrophic ridge is surgically-split, expanded, and either grafted with bone allograft or simultaneously-placed dental implants.

You will be presented with an approach to the ridge-split procedure with simultaneous implant placement while maintaining the vascularity of the alveolar bone. Also included in discussion will be criteria for case selection and two-stage surgical protocols with appropriate variations and modifications for predictable outcome with respect to several clinical cases.

Learning Objectives:  At completion of this presentation, participants should be able to:

1. Understand the rationale for the surgical ridge-split procedure

2. Identify the criteria for case selection for the vascularized ridge split procedure

3.  Recognize the value of the two-stage surgical protocol for a vascularized ridge-split procedure